News and other tidbits that Chad Cloman finds interesting enough to share
Cell phone companies are testing a new system whereby the user connects to the phone network via his/her internet connection. It costs less and gives better reception in the home. This seems like it could backfire, however, because the cost is really being transferred to the company providing the internet service.
Link: http://arstechnica.com/…
Apple’s iPhone App Store recently served up its 500 millionth download, nearly double the amount from just one month previously. Looks like Apple has another winner on its hands.
On a related note, here’s an article on how the iPhone’s touch screen works. Turns out it isn’t like the others.
Thanks to Josh for this topic.
Chad’s News has previously discussed the iPhone’s inability to display web pages that use Adobe Flash. Even though Apple’s products are overpriced, I usually recommend them because of superior user interfaces and stability—but this is one decision with which I disagree. Especially since one-third of all web pages use Flash. And Apple’s competitors are taking up the slack. According to the first linked article, Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Google’s Android will both support Flash. The second linked article is an opinion piece on why Apple will never allow Flash on the iPhone. Of note is this: “Allowing Flash … would just be too dangerous for Apple, a company that enjoys exerting total dominance over its hardware and the software that runs on it.”
Link #1: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/…
(via Lifehacker)
Link #2: http://blog.wired.com/…
(via digg)
Back when I was in college and first learned about blue boxes, the phone company was in the process of changing out their switching systems—and the new equipment wasn’t vulnerable to the 2600 Hz tone. But I managed to get my share of free calls via other means, especially in the chaotic years immediately following the breakup of AT&T. The linked article is about the man who started it all, John Draper (also known as Captain Crunch).
The linked article is about a phone booth in the Mojave desert that became famous for its remoteness. People around the world would call, just to see if anyone would answer, and others would hang out by the phone, waiting to answer incoming calls.
President Bush has signed into law some improvements to the federal “do not call” list, the most important of which is that list entries are permanent and will no longer expire after 5 years.
Link: http://consumerist.com/…
AT&T has announced its intention to leave the pay phone business by the end of 2008, blaming wireless technology. With 82% of Americans having access to cell phones, and a whopping 3.3 billion mobile phone accounts worldwide, it’s no wonder that the pay phone is going the way of the slide rule.
Link: http://www.att.com/…
(via Consumerist)
Google has a toll-free 800 number that can replace your phone company’s (expensive) 411 service, and it may also turn your Yellow Pages into just so much paper. The number is 1-800-GOOG-411, and the video on the linked web site has more details. Note that it does not look up residential listings, only businesses.
Thanks to Josh for this idea.
Link: http://www.google.com/…
Astute Chad’s News readers already know that iPhones released in the United States will work with only one service provider: AT&T. Many consumers found this to be outrageous, and the hacking community quickly figured out how to unlock the iPhone so it can be used with other carriers. Be warned, however, that Apple is very unhappy about this, and performing the unlock will almost undoubtedly void the iPhone’s warranty. Ars Technica has gone so far as to suggest that Apple may permanently disable any unlocked iPhones, turning them into expensive bricks.
Be sure to check out this picture (via Digg), which I think is hilarious.
Apple has announced a $200 price cut on its iPhones, as well as a revamped line of iPods. If you bought an iPhone within the last two weeks, you can get the price difference refunded. If you’re not eligible for the refund, however, it looks like Apple is giving out a $100 store credit.
Link: http://ap.google.com/…
(via Kim Komando)
Astute Chad’s News readers are already aware that Skype’s VoIP services were down for about two days. Turns out that the indirect cause of the outage was a massive number of near-simultaneous reboots caused by Windows Update.
Link: http://heartbeat.skype.com/…
(via Lifehacker)
This site has some unique cell phone ringtones—they’re the alert/warning messages from the cockpits of various airplanes. My favorite is “Whoop! Whoop! Pull Up!”
Link: http://www.aviationringtones.com/
(via Neatorama)
